That's how we felt this weekend, as we spent time with one of our biggest superheroes in life, George Achibra from Ghana. George is the "man behind it all", who spends day after day on Lake Volta, rescuing children from the horrific life of slavery.
I have never met anyone like him. He has truly been chosen by the Lord to do GREAT and NECESSARY work, and he does it with all of his heart and soul, giving all glory and all credit to God.
To have this great man in our own city, was surreal. Every time I saw him, I just kept thinking "George is really HERE!" And, every time I saw him, I was greeted with the same huge grin and cheerful hug. I love this man!
This was his first trip to the United States, and he has had a busy few days for sure. We were honored to join our friends, the Grieges, in their beautiful home, as we hosted a meet-and-greet for George and the Touch a Life staff in an evening together with friends. (You might recognize the Griege family from Charlie's Bike-a-Thon for His Chase!! He's another superhero!)
The Grieges planned every detail and did such a great job of welcoming George to the US. I was so glad that so many of YOU could be there, and it means the world to Mark and me to share this sweet friend of ours with you, as well as all the people at Touch a Life who we love so much.
After our fun party, we also got to worship with George at church the next morning, as well as listen to him share his ministry and calling with everyone there. Every time he speaks, I am so moved by his heart. He shares of his passion and love for these kids, and how much we must come together as ONE family on behalf of those who are "voiceless". Amen, Super George!
By far, my favorite moment of the entire weekend was when my girls got to meet him. As my friend Amy said, all we could think of was Jesus as we watched him. "Let the little children come to me, and do not forbid them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to children like these!"
Every child was scooped up.
Every child was joyfully greeted.
Every child was loved from his heart.
Every single child who came to greet George was lifted up immediately to his face, and with a huge smile, and laughing the whole time, George would greet them and tell them how wonderful it was to see them.
His heart just overflows with love for kids. And, I know my girls' love was pouring out right back at him. They were so excited to meet the George they had heard so much about! It was a precious gift and a day none of us will ever forget.
We continue to pray for God's power to be shown in the life of George Achibra, as he continues to fight for justice and for freedom for the trafficked children. We pray that as George spends his life on behalf of the hungry and satisfies the needs of the oppressed, the Lord will guide Him always, satisfying his needs and strengthening his frame...that George may be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:10-12
Since I'm now only 15 days away from leaving for Rwanda, I figure I better do my last post about Ghana. :)
As I referred to in past posts, one of the main goals for this trip was to complete the surgeries for the children who needed them. The surgery team ended up being able to complete 11 of the most necessary surgeries in two days, and we were all able to watch as God brought the most amazing team together for this to happen. As I already mentioned, Mark and I, being non-medical members, got the privilege of playing, cuddling, painting, and loving on the kids for these few days. It was a wonderful time with them, and we were so proud of how each of them handled their surgery. Here they are showing their bandages with their awesome team of doctors and nurses!
After the surgeries were complete, we began the other part of this trip: visiting Lake Volta, where thousands of children are still in slavery.
I knew it would be hard to see. I expected it to feel really dark and I had been told many times that you can almost sense the "evil" when you're there.
We did have a really hard time seeing what these children were going through.
And, it was truly surreal to be experiencing firsthand what I had only seen in pictures.
We literally floated up next to canoes of children who were working as slave fisherman.
We held their hands, gave them candy, learned their names and ages, and saw them smile.
We listened as George, Jr. spoke to the masters in their own tribal language, telling them that these children deserve to have a childhood, to have an education, to be free. I marveled as he would tell us details about these children. He knows them so well. He knows how long they have been slaves. They know who lives on which island, and with which master's family. And, they spend hours and hours tracking the kids and looking for opportunities to free them.
Many of you have asked when and how a child becomes free. And, it is a complicated process to explain. Because it isn't "American" in any way. But, George Achibra and his family does an amazing job at talking with these masters, educating them on what they are doing that is wrong (since many have done this for generations), and then spend time earning their trust and developing a relationship with them. Many masters are still unapproachable, and some are unwilling to cooperate. But, many are eventually willing to release children from time to time.
We are praying for open hearts for these masters. We are also praying that there will be a way to help them too. I loved that we got an opportunity to do exactly this while we were there.
We landed on the first island, where the masters reside, and therefore, so do hundreds of children. Some of the very children we are praying to be released, were the ones who rowed us in close to the shore of their island. I was in a boat with a child in slavery. It is still so hard for me to take that in. These are the sweet boys who gave me a ride to the shore. :)
We were greeted so warmly, and were given places to sit under the shade of the huge mango tree in the center of the village.
And, on the second island we went to, they greeted us and gathered under the big central hut...both times, we were honored and welcomed to their homes.
The medical team asked them questions about what diseases they experience on their island, what water they drink (lake water!), and in what ways we could most help them. I loved watching as gratitude just flowed from them all, as we offered hundreds of mosquito nets for their families and for the children.
They were SO excited to be receiving this gift of life, and it was amazing to listen to them chant "NO MORE MALARIA, NO MORE MALARIA" with us, and then giggle and laugh as we fit as many people under a mosquito net as we could.
For all of you who donated to the mosquito net drive, I can't begin to tell you how significant your gift was. We got to watch as these were distributed to families, and as nets were hung in homes as an example. We got to see as the chief shook our hands and said "Thank you for helping our village" with the biggest grin I've ever seen.
YOU made this difference, and it was one of the most emotional moments I had on the trip.
In fact, in the middle of all of this activity, Brad Gautney, who organized the mosquito net drive, hugged Mark and said "I can't help but think about your son right now."
Mark and I both had tears streaming down our faces. And, once again, I asked God "What if I had missed this, Lord?" Chase was a part of all of this, and I felt it really strongly this day. A few minutes after this moment, as I was walking with Brad, he asked if I was okay. All I could get out was "It's just overwhelming." And, I didn't mean the surroundings. I meant that I was here, doing this, experiencing this, after all that has happened. And, it just felt so right. And, like such a blessing I didn't deserve.
As we walked around the islands, this is what we saw.
We saw primitive mud huts where the families live, we met children who were malnourished, with hollow eyes and desperate for our touch. We saw a school building shell that was not being used, with the desks pushed against the wall and the chalkboard in the floor, with goat droppings on top.
We saw groups of children cleaning fish, mending nets, rowing boats...working as slaves ALL AROUND US!
It was shocking that I was watching it happen right in front of my eyes! I still remember faces and names, and I pray I never forget them, because I pray for them by name every day. I want them to be free. I want them to be able to be children. I want them to know how much they are treasured.
But, something weird was happening while I was there on the first island. At the same time as I was feeling this sadness and shock--for some strange reason--I was full of hope too. I don't know WHY this was. There were so many reasons NOT to have hope. Everywhere I looked was a reason to be sad. But, as I watched our team interact with these beautiful people and sweet children, I just kept sensing that something BIG was beginning here.
And I loved meeting these families! (And especially the babies and kids!) And, I could easily see how relationships could be formed here and changes could be made over time.
As I listened to the Vanderpools already making a plan for a water filtration system, and medical clinic in this area, and as I watched them set up a mobile clinic right there in the middle of the village, treating everything from wounds to worms...I was giddy with the thought of what could still be done here!
I still don't know exactly what it will look like, but I know for sure we're not done visiting the lake, or ministering to the people on the islands there.
There is so much to be done. And, sure, that can be overwhelming. But, so much of it is really "do-able". These people need hope. They need clean water. They need education. They need other ways to support their families besides fishing. Or, they need a better way to fish. They need vaccines and medication and doctors and nurses who will visit them.
And, ALL of that is totally do-able! I felt so encouraged by what I experienced, and that took me completely by surprise.
Sure, I had tears. There were moments when I had to catch my breath, and realize that I was in the middle of nowhere, in Africa, with people who were living in very primitive conditions.
But, even with the sadness, and the sickness, and the slavery, I believe the Lord allowed me to peek in on what He sees. I believe He is MOVING boldly on behalf of these children, and even on behalf of these masters....to offer them HOPE and NEW LIFE. When He looks at them, He sees beauty. And, how could you not? Look at these faces!!
I believe He sees a BEAUTIFUL group of people who are lost, and just need direction. They have been overlooked, and He's not letting us do that anymore. They need to know a different way of doing things. And, sure, it could take a long time to get there. But, why shouldn't we try all that we can, especially considering all that we've been given?
They need water. We can give them water.
They need vaccines. We can give them vaccines.
They need education. We can arrange for them to have teachers.
They need new sources of business and income. We can train them to do so many other things.
I left the lake with images of children branded in my mind. I also left the lake with an intense desire to come back again. (I honestly wasn't sure if that feeling would be there!) And, I left the lake with a hope I didn't expect.
I pray that the Lord will allow me to return to see Hagar. And, Ebenezer.
And, Eche.
And, Forever. And, Echoo and Achoo. (twins that are named like sneezes. :)
And, I pray that I see the day when they are free and running around, healthy and strong.
I pray that I can return to visit these beautiful girls and teach them more songs.
They learned "God is so Good", and it was the most beautiful experience. Me, a lone white woman, surrounded by beautiful teenage girls, who were so timid to sing out loud. (By the way, I found that I was very drawn to the teenage girls all week. It just seemed as if God drew me to them...they just seemed to be the most lost of all.) There was noise everywhere from the medical clinic and the children running around us. But slowly, as I sang a line, and they repeated it, our voices became louder, as they became more confident of the words and the new song. Even after I had finished singing and had begun talking to one or another of them, many of them continued to sing "God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, He's so good to me." I hope I never forget that moment in my whole life.
And, I pray that I see the day when they are free and singing at the top of their lungs.
May we all see the day when they each sing a New Hallelujah..."breaking out from the children of freedom"!!
The day we arrived at Village of Life, located just minutes away from Lake Volta, we got the news that the other half of the team had been part of the rescue of two precious boys. That was not something they expected to get to do, and I think we were all completely surprised to hear the great news!
As I peeked in on them sleeping, I kept thinking, "This little tiny boy was a slave YESTERDAY!" He was just given NEW life right before our eyes!
The next morning, we got to meet Gideon and Godsway (yes, his name is "God's Way").
Godsway is only six, and the tiniest, skinniest little thing. You can see here how bony he is.
And, you should have seen this kid EAT! It was obvious that he was literally starving. And, I think he could eat like that for months and still have more weight to gain!
I love these little knobby knees in comparison to this kickball. Crazy!!
Godsway was a very sweet boy, and was a little shy at first. How easily he opened up, though, once he was given the chance to PLAY like a normal six year old.
Bubbles, balls, paints, crayons, playdough, and legos were all a big part in getting THESE beautiful smiles:
He bonded instantly with miss Hope, as she taught him to draw a heart (which he repeatedly drew on all of his papers after that), painted roads for him to drive his cars on, and taught him to write his NAME! It was amazing!!
Godsway's older brother, Gideon, is 11, and had actually been rescued once before. A different organization had returned him to his family, and they turned around and sold him again. That just broke my heart to know that he once thought he was safe, but was then given right back into the slavery he had left. I wanted him to KNOW for sure that he wasn't ever returning to that way of life.
Gideon was also a little shy and reserved that first morning, and I'm sure it was quite overwhelming to have so many white people right in his face. :) But, he warmed up quickly, and was soon sharing his smiles, and showing us his personality.
He is such an intelligent guy, and was EXCELLENT at both painting and playing soccer! We were all blown away with ALL the skills and talents these two boys have, and that we could already see in a few days time.
Isn't this painting amazing?! And, it was painted less than 24 hours after he was rescued from being trafficked. It makes me crazy in some ways...because THIS is inside of every single one of those precious children still on the lake. We have GOT to get them out, so they can paint colorful flowers too.
Gideon also really enjoyed the music...both the drums and the guitar fascinated him, and he spent alot of time doing this:
...watching Jaron do his thing. :)
It was amazing to get to know these boys, and to watch as two malnourished, scared children became happy, carefree children over just a matter of hours. We got to witness how life-giving these rescues really are. It is so quick! Within hours, these children have smiles, feel loved, and begin to experience what our children do every day: being treasured enough by another person to get food, clothing, education, shelter, and love. Wow. What incredible blessings those are.
I also loved watching how they adjusted to this environment and interacted with other kids who were also rescued from the same area. All of the sweet kiddos who we love so much, were so kind to both of these boys, and I loved watching them all play with each other. :)
"Baby Jacob" as he is called, has always been just that: the baby. Not really the big leader or the one anyone turns to for help. He is just a baby! But, Baby Jacob knew these boys from the lake, and got to be the one who helped these two boys to feel safe and secure. It was so neat to watch their friendship grow in those first days. (And, of course, Baby Jacob was willing to do most anything with them...from horseplay, to digging through suitcases, to getting a STASH of candy from Mr. Mark. He was happy to help in any way he could! :)
The older boys and girls were also so sweet and loving to Gideon and Godsway, and immediately began their roles as caretakers. This is Kwaku (one of my special friends) and Gideon, as they got ready to play soccer one afternoon.
These boys are REALLY really good at soccer. And, Gideon was amazingly tough and quick.
Oh, these sweet boys were sure a reminder for me of how uniquely purposed each of these children are. They were not made to be a fisherman's slave. They were made for much greater things. They also remind me of God's faithfulness. He is bringing them home, one by one, and He's allowing us to watch as He transforms their lives and their hearts right before our eyes. What a gift for everyone involved.
